Valerie Harper

Marital status: Married to Tony Cacciotti for two years, but we`ve been together for 11 years.

Child: Cristina, 7.

Working on: Starring in ``City,`` Monday nights on CBS-TV and helping the homeless and the hungry.

The last good movie I saw was: ``The Little Mermaid.`` With my daughter.

I stayed home to watch: ``Kiki Camarena: The Drug Wars.`` It was important television.

The book I`ve been recommending lately is: A collection of Edna St. Vincent Millay`s poems.

Favorite performer: Anna Magnani.

Prized possession: I have a gray jacket I adore. It`s an old, comfortable car coat. The cuffs are frayed and the lining is coming out, but I always get compliments when I wear it, and I always feel good in it.

Personal heroes: Gloria Steinem, Margaret Mead, Cesar Chavez, Joan Holmes and Gail Abarbanel, head of the Rape Treatment Center in Santa Monica, Calif. Every New Year`s I resolve: To make a meaningful contribution, not of money, but of myself.

I`ve never been able to: Whistle, but I can fake it.

I`d give anything to meet: Mikhail Gorbachev. I`d like to thank him.

My fantasy is: To be fluent in every language.

The worst advice my mother ever gave me was: ``Be `feminine` ``, to manipulate men. She was coming out of a period when that`s what it took for women to survive.

I knew I was a grownup when I: Paid rent on my first apartment.

If I`ve learned one thing in life, it`s: I am responsible for whatever happens to me.

Major accomplishment: Keeping my mind open. It`s a daily struggle and quest, but I`ve trained myself to do it, and I get over things quickly.

My most humbling experience: Being in refugee camps in East Africa and seeing the incredible dignity and courage of people who have nothing.

Three words that best describe me: Energetic, passionate and positive.